The band split in 2002 to allow Garrett to focus on his political career. He became a member of the Australian House of Representatives and the was the Australian Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts from 2007-2010. From 2010, he was the Australian Minister for Education. Garrett did not stand for re-election in 2013. The band has reunited since then for two benefit concerts: the 2005 WaveAid concert for Indian Ocean Tsunami victims and in March 2009 the band reformed for two shows in Canberra as a warm up for "Sound Relief" in Melbourne, a benefit concert for the Victorian Bushfire victims.
The Oils, as they are known to their fans, began as a progressive rock band called Farm in the early 1970s, then under the Midnight Oil name developed a reputation as an impressive and hard-working live act associated with the surfing community of Sydney. They became one of Australia's most respected bands, known for their live performances, and also for their activism and support for community groups and causes.
Midnight Oil's first two albums Midnight Oil and Head Injuries were originally released on an independent label, followed by the EP Bird Noises in 1980. Their third album, Place without a Postcard, was recorded in Great Britain with the respected producer Glyn Johns (Led Zeppelin, The Who) on the back of a brief tour of the UK.
Their fourth album, 10,9,8,7,6,5,4,3,2,1 (spoken as "10 to 1"), marked both the Oil's major Australian breakthrough and the beginning of their successful association with producer Nick Launay. This album also saw considerable success in the college radio scene of the US, prompting a tour of North America.
Following on from 10-1, the Oils with Nick Launay recorded the fifth album Red Sails in the Sunset during a three month stint in Tokyo in 1984, becoming the first known western band to record an entire album in Japan. Red Sails was reasonably successful in Australia, featuring songs like Best of Both Worlds and Kosciuszko, but the album's quirky, experimental sound failed to make major inroads overseas. Also during 1984, frontman Peter Garrett was narrowly defeated in an election for the New South Wales, representing the Nuclear Disarmament Party (NDP).
In 1985, following the release of the EP Species Deceases the Oils embarked on a career-changing tour of remote Aboriginal communities of outback Australia with legendary Aboriginal group, the Warumpi Band. The tour led to the recording of Midnight Oil's major international breakthrough success Diesel and Dust, released in 1987 which featured their biggest international hit Beds Are Burning. The following album Blue Sky Mining, released in 1990 had two songs that topped the US Modern Rock charts, Blue Sky Mine and Forgotten Years. Both Diesel and Dust and Blue Sky Mining were produced with Warne Livesey.
Between 1988 and 1992, the band's Diesel and Dust and Blue Sky Mining discs became known worldwide, as did their political activism for causes ranging from nuclear disarmament to aboriginal rights and environmental issues. Their subsequent albums sold less well outside Australia, but the Oils maintained a following throughout the 1990s and into the new century.
The Midnight Oil lineup remained quite stable over the band's long career: Garrett as lead singer and harmonica, Jim Moginie on guitar and keyboards, Martin Rotsey on guitar, and Rob Hirst on drums. Andrew (Bear) James, the first bass player, left in 1980 due to ill health. Peter Gifford replaced him and in turn quit the band in 1987 citing the pressures of touring. New Zealander Bones Hillman, (ex Swingers) replaced him, and remained with the group until its dissolution in 2002. Gary Morris was the band's manager and effective sixth member (often credited with the simple title "Business, no singing" on albums) throughout.
In 2004 Peter Garrett was elected to Federal Parliament as the Labor member for Kingsford-Smith in Sydney. In November 2007 he became Minister for Arts in the Australian government as a member of Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's front bench. He retired from Parliament in 2013. Jim Moginie continues his involvement with music through his own band, The Family Dog and as a producer for artists such as Sarah Blasko. Rob Hirst is also involved with several musical projects such as Hirst and Greene, Ghostwriters, The Angry Tradesmen and The Backsliders. Moginie, Hirst and Martin Rotsey continue to play and record together in instrumental band The Break.
The band reformed in 2016, launched a world tour in 2017 and released the live album Armistice Day: Live at the Domain, Sydney with an accompanying film. 2020 saw the release of the mini-album called The Makarrata Project. Bass guitarist Bones Hillman died on 7 November 2020 of cancer. On 18 May 2021, the band announced their upcoming thirteenth album, Show of Hands, the last recordings to feature Hillman. The first single, released on 28 October, was Rising Seas.
Blossom and Blood
Midnight Oil Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Wipe away your tears
For those who fought and those who fell
Become our sons as well
You the warriors with your words
Throw away your spears
You talk of times of peace for all
All the people with dreams, all mothers with sons
All people with dreams never woken at night by the sound of guns
Like a child that's born on a moonless night
Like a child that's born, we parachute down to an unknown fight
This city of blossom and blood
This city suffered more than it should
These sidewalk silhouettes
Not washed away, not washed away
Whatever you've done
Whatever you've done
Whatever you've done
There's a hope in the heart says never again
Whatever you say, whatever you say, whatever you say
It's the price of peace to remember that day
The song "Blossom and Blood" by Midnight Oil captures the essence of war, its horrible consequences, and the hope for peace. The initial lines speak directly to the mothers whose sons have lost their lives in the war, and in a way, it tells them not to cry anymore. The fallen soldiers are not only their sons but also belong to the entire nation. The song demands the warriors to leave their weapons and work towards peace, instead of preparing for battle when talking about peace. The lines "All the people with dreams, all mothers with sons/All people with dreams never woken at night by the sound of guns" depict the haunting reality of people living in war-stricken areas and the impact it has on their dreams and sleep. The song compares the feeling of going to war to that of a child being born on a moonless night, parachuting down into an unknown battle.
The refrain, "This city of blossom and blood/This city suffered more than it should/These sidewalk silhouettes/Not washed away, not washed away/Whatever you've done" talks about the aftermath of war, where the city is filled with bloodshed and despair. The last lines, "There's a hope in the heart says never again/Whatever you say, whatever you say, whatever you say/It's the price of peace to remember that day," show that even though we have seen the worst of humanity in the war, we must strive for peace and remember that terrible day to make sure it never repeats itself.
Line by Line Meaning
You, the mothers who sent your sons
Mothers who sent their sons to fight in wars
Wipe away your tears
Mothers should stop grieving and be strong
For those who fought and those who fell
Honoring soldiers who fought but lost their lives in battle
Become our sons as well
We all claim ownership of these fallen soldiers as if they were our own sons
You the warriors with your words
Activists who use words to fight for peace
Throw away your spears
Activists should relinquish their weapons and violent ways
You talk of times of peace for all
Activists advocate for a world free of war and conflict
And then prepare for war
Ironically, they continue to make preparations for war
All the people with dreams, all mothers with sons
Everyone, regardless of gender or background, has aspirations and people they care about
All people with dreams never woken at night by the sound of guns
People should be able to dream peacefully without being interrupted by violence
Like a child that's born on a moonless night
The birth of something new in a dark and uncertain time
Like a child that's born, we parachute down to an unknown fight
We are thrown into battles without knowing what lies ahead, like jumping out of a plane
This city of blossom and blood
The city is beautiful yet marked by violence and tragedy
This city suffered more than it should
The city has experienced too much pain and hardship
These sidewalk silhouettes
The outlines of bodies that were struck down and left on the pavement
Not washed away, not washed away
These memories and tragedies cannot be forgotten or erased
Whatever you've done
No matter what happened in the past
There's a hope in the heart says never again
We strive for a future where such tragedies will never happen again
Whatever you say, whatever you say, whatever you say
People continue to justify war and tragedy with the same empty phrases
It's the price of peace to remember that day
We remember the tragedies of the past as a reminder of what we hope to avoid in the future
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: PETER GARRETT, PETER GIFFORD, ROBERT HIRST, JAMES MOGINIE, MARTIN ROTSEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind